Opposition promises public input for 2018
(CNS): The opposition leader has said that he and his colleagues will begin a series of fact-finding meetings in all districts in the New Year to find “workable, affordable and acceptable solutions to overcoming the challenges and seizing the opportunities” that he believes will present themselves over the next year. In his New Year’s message Ezzard Miller said the opposition was committed to a new form of governance founded on participatory democracy, where all Caymanians will be given a voice over the decisions made by government.
He said the opposition would continue to work with the people, giving the public a chance and the responsibility necessary to becoming fully involved in the process of governing.
Miller pointed to the opportunities and challenges that he believes the country faces, from improving education and healthcare to tackling the problems presented by the current pension regime and local unemployment. He also raised concerns about the government’s 2018/19 budget that begins on 1 January stating that it “offers neither hope nor opportunity for Caymanians”.
“We will work to correct the impediments created by the current coalition government made up of the remnants of the PPM, the remnants of the UDP/CDP and some Independents,” he said. ” Unfortunately, this budget relies on incremental increases or reductions in the same old tried and failed strategies, while avoiding any bold new strategies that might succeed in making life better for Caymanians.
“We should not let this discourage us, however. While we will have to live within the constraints of this law for the next two years, but, there is much that we, the Opposition, with your help and support can do to influence necessary changes by the government for the betterment of Cayman and Caymanians,” he added.
As well as of the challenges of ensuring new legislation benefits all Caymanians and not just a selected minority or inward investors, Miller spoke about the need to overhaul and improve the existing legal framework around pensions, healthcare and employment.
Miller also said the opposition would be pressing government in 2018 to produce a development supporting economic plan and find a way to put the control of the local economy back in the hands of Caymanians, and that they would be pushing for an integrity commission to stamp out corruption at all levels of society, including in the political arena, the civil service, and the private sector.
Category: Politics
Let’s face it the government is set on outsourcing jobs to make under the table deals a reality. They have hired private companies in almost every department and it’s only getting worse. Our future seems bright for some rich people. As for the rest that’s not happening. Just wait till all those unemployed hit the streets and then we will see why they want to hire more police to control us in this police state.
The Leader of the Opposition is really over the hill and out of touch with reality, so much so, that he wants ideas from the public to keep him and his antagonist colleagues relevant. Happy New Year friends! May 2018 be most prosperous and successful year for you and your family!
career politicians…. ?
I for one is all for allowing us, the public, to have an input in the generated proposals created by the government. But from past track records, that is all that happens. Until the public suggestions/inputs/ideas/ interests or whatever use of words are thrown out there, are incorporated/taken on abroad/implemented into final products, we shall see no change and the government of the day just continuing to play lip service to us – the voting public for whom they should be representing.
Did you take any English classes in school?
The illiterate demographic is key to the outcome of elections in many of the rotten boroughs.
7;04 The important issue in this case, that the person got his message across, so leave it alone, ok
Ezzard get rid of the cruise ship berthing facility. It is a waste of money for the downtown jewelers and the money is needed elsewhere.
I am disappointed with Mr. Miller’s comments on the upcoming Gospel Concert to be held on New Year’s Eve. Instead of upholding our laws, customs, history, culture and norms he has apparently joined with the noisemakers. I can sort of understand when visitors and non national complain that they won’t be allowed to dance on Sunday night but Mr. MIller should be aware that it has been like that for 40 years. It appears as if these establishments whose operators are feeling disappointed are one event away from breaking even or making a profit. I wonder how they managed to keep open over the year. Perhaps if they are so desperate they should look at their business model. Too much of our culture has been already destroyed by outsiders who has no affinity to Cayman and left their country to live here with the sole intention of changing everything and each one creating their own utopia. I wonder if they ever give a thought to what those of us whose heritage has been here from the beginning of our lives , our parents and goes back four and five generations think or how we feel. Please do not misunderstand me, I am definitely not against persons who cannot make that claim. I have in the past worked with many people not from here and I have many friends and aquaintances who were on work permits and now hold PR / status iI had no qualms about them applying and subsequently qualifying to be granted these privileges. However I would consider myself a bit mischievous if I went to their countries and tried to change their way of life and probably would be asked to leave, and rightly so. I don’t understand why certain people came here , perhaps not fully knowing our way of life, but instead of embracing us they are trying their best to change everything and make Cayman like where they came from. As I said before we have already lost too much and we are not about to lose anymore. We have too many of our people displaced in our homeland. Some of the non nationals are of the impression that before they came here we were all so backward, poor, etc. well let me tell you who think that, we were doing just fine. Life was so much more pleasant. We like our gospel concerts, we like our country music, when our men went to sea they brought back country music. Our lives were fine, even with the mosquitoes. Nonody starved to death, we are not about to keep quiet any longer while our heritage and culture is tossed away, please do not take our meakness for weakness. Stop thinking about the next dollar all the time as there are other things more important like health and life. So many horrible hthinfs has happened in the world this past year. Spend New Year’s Eve with your loved ones and keep safe. Dance in your own house, backyard and have a wonderful new year.
Anonymous 8:40 you seem rather confused. Mr. Miller said the Gospel concert should be cancelled that is upholding the Law.
What are your thoughts Mr. Miller on CIG allowing gas stations to sell alcohol everyday, all day long (24/7) whilst prohibiting music and dancing on Sunday? And other Sunday Trading?
As the opposition panders to the elderly, evangelical right vote, ignoring the young adults and new parents
I’m not for the opposition either but Cayman needs to stay for Caymanians…If we make mistakes those are our mistakes but to let outsiders dictate our future is just not right and I will never ever agree to permanent residents voting in our elections..
Calm down, we’ll all be voters soon anyway and you won’t get a say on that.
Understanding who have the right to be called “Caymanian”, accepting what that legally means, and defending their rights as well as those of “birth” Caymanians are things we all need to work on as a society if we are to evolve in 2018.
Mr. Miller: can you please elaborate on your thoughts / plans around pensions?
There must be a legal way to stop Alden from ignoring our immigration laws for work record permit revenues and giving away the country with PR grants in excess per capita of any other country.
Simple don’t vote him or any of his Government back in
PPM voters look for party affiliation not actual policy so
More garbage from double dipping Miller, the leader of the self entitled, bigoted and terminally stupid.
And how can he be leader of an opposition which doesn’t exist? The opposition should have a mandated manifesto fought on party political lines, not a bunch of independent self interests and wannabe politicos.
Wannabe ? All but one have served more than one term! That means the Caymanian people want them there!
As I said, wannabes, but in addition voted in by a clueless electorate.
Can’t wait for Chris to blow his own Blowhard trumpet. This Christmas breeze is getting cool and we need more hot air around here!
When has he blown his own trumpet in the past, perhaps you can provide evidence of a trend of this occurring, I highly doubt you can
the opposition is a sad joke and goes to prove why all permanent residents should be allowed vote and run for office…
Nope,
Another example of the entitlement Alden has taken for the citizens and given to the guests.
Foreigners are not allowed to run for office or vote in other countries.
Why do you think you can come to Cayman and tell us what to do or how to live?Our laws are written to protect Caymanians and our traditions. If you or any other expatriate do not like how things operate down here do yourself a favor and go back to your country of origin. Cayman will survive just fine without your type. Too many ungrateful driftwood with no respect for Caymanians have come here to try and change our way of life while disrespecting locals.
In 2018 NO MORE DRIFTWOOD politics and policies. Caymanians must come first!
Not true. Caymanians resident in the UK can vote in the UK
Yea, no more loan guarantees for Cayman by those ingrate driftwood, or military protection, diplomatic services, representation at top table of the worlds leading economies, or the UN and the EU.
Yea, get rid of those furreners and let us live our lives at the mercy of international and domestic drug gangs. Send home the maids that wipe our self entitled asses, bring up our spoilt kids and clean up our crap. Get rid of the gardeners, the nurses, the police officers, prison officers, the cooks, servers and hotel staff. Fire the dive staff, boat captains and anyone else who actually contributes to this broken society.
Yea, send this island back to the 50’s when it was broke and isolated, houses built of wood and under the protection of Jamaica.
Be careful what you wish for because all that you currently have is as a direct consequence of others, most of which are driftwood.
Hush Alden we know it’s you
So get yourself naturalized, if its so important to you. Or do you just like slinging mud?
You are so brave and committed you can’t sign your name but want to vote and run for politics.
Really, who is interested in this group of malcontents. Nothing to offer Cayman.
as a white british male .caymanian paper holder i would never want to see that happen.i never came here to see this place become the same shit show as the u.k.thats why i love this place.
liar
You must love living in a place where mastering the grammar and punctuation of a six year old is unnecessary?
Obviously a recipient of Cayman’s glorious education system speaking here. The reason you’re here bobo isn’t because you love this place so much, it’s because Cayman will happily employ the uneducated and lazy, many calling themselves Caymanians, or in your case a ‘paper holder’, (wtf?) ?.
And by the way numb nuts, why the necessity to announce yourself as a white British male? Do you not understand that for someone who loves this place so much, and presumably its multi ethnic makeup, to make such pronouncements is the very nature of division you so vociferously claim to not want to witness.
Basically your a bigoted hypocrite, or a delusional fool, or both.
British? Seems unlikely given your illiteracy. Nice try.
Well said “me “. That’s how everybody should think and should appreciate and respect the culure, traditions, the people or belongers of our Beloved Cayman Islands.” Happy New Year 2018 ‘.
This is why we need them ! Clearly the foreigners among us are no longer happy with just the financial advantages they have now they want political control! What country other than Cayman would such an audacious suggestion not spark huge public outrage ????